Hayabusa has a long history of working with elite MMA fighters and has just partnered with Welterweight Champion Georges ‘Rush’ St-Pierre. St-Pierre is a consummate professional and an excellent role model for aspiring Mixed Martial Artists. Hayabusafeels St-Pierre compliments the brand very well, “Georges brings dignity, professionalism, honor and respect to the sport of MMA and we are excited to have him as the newest member of the Hayabusa team.”

<MW> Where did the name CFL come from? 
<GB> CFL is for Cape Town Western Cape fighters to compete against the rest of SA. So Cape Fight League it is.


<MW> Successful first event? 
<GB> Yes it was very successful for the 1st event, great fights and loads of excitement for the next one.


<MW> Will we see more CFL events? 
<GB> Yes the next event will be CFL02 in May


<MW> With the EFC coming to Cape Town for EFC 12 - do you think this will hurt or help the CFL?
<GB> It will help CFL and the sport in general in Cape Town

<MW> Key fighters in the CFL? 
<GB> CFL is mostly for the amateurs so they are up and coming future stars! But we have a huge interest from pros too see the webpage under fighters.

<MW> Forgot to ask, so sorry - the URL for the website?
<GB> www.capefightleague.co.za

<MW> What is the pricing of the tickets like for CFL?
<GB> From R100 to R200

<MW> The way forward for the CFL? 
<GB> More shows and bigger and better productions anther 3 this year

<MW> Will the CFL start hosting international fighters? 
<GB> We will be have fighters from all over the country and perhaps from Oversees but we are all for our local talent

<MW> Will it always be based in Cape Town or do you have plans to move around the Country? 
<GB> It will always be in the Western Cape.

<MW> Anyone you would like to give thanks to? 
<GB> Big thanks to our Sponsors Rockets performance apparel. Max Mouth Guards, Eight Limbz, Fighters only magazine Panther fighting arts gym and Takedown fightersAcademy. And of course MMAWear.co.za for providing us with this amazing platform to obtain further exposure.

Rated at 4.25 out of 5.00

Styling

A good looking kimono, embroidered patches and print on the inside makes it very attractive for both owner and fellow grapplers

Comfort

Extremely comfortable and designed specifically for women. Very lightweight

Durability

Durable, great for every day grappling and ideal for competitions

Price

Approximately R1499.99 from MMAWear.co.za

Pro 

Lightweight, breathable, durable and aesthetically appealing     

Con

Stitching on the jacket is not perfect and some fraying may occur but unlikely

Branding and initial appearance

The kimono’s initial appearance is aesthetically pleasing.  It has been designed as an exclusive women’s kimono.  Insofar as it has embroidered ‘Break Point’ patches and the logo is printed in pink on the inside of the kimono.  This gives it a very feminine look and is sure to draw interest from fellow grapplers male and female.

The top is a good cut and true to its sizing.  It has good room in the chest area and although shorter than a men’s kimono, it fits well across the front and is therefore one of the more comfortable Kimonos I’ve worn.

The bottoms are a good fit, although a bit large for me, the advantage of course is that the Kimono comes 95% pre-shrunk, needing only two or three warm washes to get the fit you require.  They have the embroidered ‘Break Point’ logo at the bottom of the right leg in pink and then also along the top of the left leg.  To date, the most comfortable Kimono bottoms I’ve worn.  They have the feel of a lightweight but are very durable. 

First wash

Because of the optional 5% shrinkage, a cool wash at 30 degrees centigrade is recommended.  Shrinking the Kimono should be done one wash at a time at between 40 & 60 degrees until the desired fit is achieved.  I noticed that the weave is incredibly soft, even after the first wash.

Comfort

I definitely rate this, the most comfortable kimono I’ve grappled in.  It looks extremely soft and lightweight and it feels it.  It felt as if I had on my older, more comfortable kimono and not a new fresh one.  The lapel as expected with any new kimono was a bit rough on the neck but even without a rash guard, this kimono did not give me that “carpet burn” feel on my shoulders.

Conclusion and Rating

The Break Point women’s lightweight Kimono is definitely one I’d recommend. Aside from its aesthetics, it’s breathable, light and doesn’t retain much water, even after a wash, making it possible to air-dry overnight and therefore a low maintenance Kimono.  I rate this Kimono a 4.25 out of 5.

<MW> Please provide us with some insight on the culture you are trying to build at FFM, especially regarding the move of Chef from Heavyweight to Light Heavyweight, (I know there have been some heated debates about this on Facebook).
<RQ> We are trying to build the next generation of well-educated MMA athletes and develop the first well-known and respected MMA athletes that are internationally recognized. Our FFM growing community and culture is there to help educate individually about MMA in a positive manner and try removing that negative thug image that most people first think of MMA athletes. Chef’s move has been debated heavily but the choice is final, he will move down a weight category. I have always seen Chef as a light heavy and it was confirmed when we went to one of the top gyms in the world Tristar. I have always said that South African fighters are lazy in terms on fighting at the right weight. It is getting much better now, but my fighters train and look at competing for the international fighters and they are all very big for their weight category. A lot of the athletes in Tristar recommended that Chef should fight at light heavy, so that what we are going to do. What’s the worst thing that can happen? He doesn’t light being at that weight ok so we move him back to heavy weight. (At this point, you can't help but think Greg Jackson?)

<MW> The FFM pro team recently returned from a training camp in Canada and if I’m not mistaken, last year it was Thailand, will this be a new annual theme from the Pro Team?
<RQ> These annual trips have always been a tradition for FFM for 5 years now; education is power and important if you want to develop the best MMA athletes. It amuses me when coaches in this country think they know everything. 

<MW> If so, where are you guys planning on going this year?
<RQ> This year we will be going to Brazil and Canada, next year will be Russia and Canada. I will always be traveling every year to improve my understanding of each aspect of MMA. I have a hand full of places that touches every aspect of MMA that I want to visit and learn from.

<MW> Are the plans for FFM to become the first truly SA recognized gym-producing fighters that will fight overseas?
<RQ> Yes, FFM to be known as the gym to develop and drastically improve any individual Also, the first real MMA gym that produces all types of top athlete from MMA to Muay Thai, Crossfit, Brazilian ju-jitsu and wrestling.   

<MW> Do you think there is a psychological advantage to having such a big pro team (compared to other gyms) and the fact that they are all so tight as friends and gym partners?
<RQ> My team has been in a developing process for 5 years; right now we are looking strong. MMA is a team sport if you like it or not that is the truth. If you are training and sparring with the top individuals in the sport how can you not improve mentally and physically? Having a big pro team with a military approach defiantly give my fighters a psychological advantage knowing whom they train with everyday are top athletes that are ranked number one and two in the country. It is hard right now to have good training and sparring partners for MMA in South Africa because the pool of fighters is small but my team right now is the biggest in the country and I am happy to grow it. 

<MW> What do you foresee lies ahead for MMA in this country?
<RQ> MMA in this country has not even exploded yet, thanks to EFC Africa it is only going to get bigger and better, where MMA athletes will become celebrities and get paid like real sportsmen. Soon MMA will be on the tip of everyone’s tongue.  

<MW> Will you ever fight again? And if so, who would you like to fight?
<RQ> I don’t think I will fight again right now; my goals in life and the sport have changed. My goals are to produce top internationally fighters from South Africa and be known as the “GO-TO Coach” in this country. 

<MW> Who is your biggest inspiration?
<RQ> Everyone that I have every learnt form, my team and community are a big inspiration for me. I have had a lot of coaches that inspire me, and will keep inspiring me as I grow in the sport.  

<MW> There are rumours that FFM is opening a second base elsewhere in SA, are these true?
<RQ> Nope, I cannot be at two places at once. I will never water down the FFM name and training ethic. 

<MW> What are your future plans in the sport? 
<RQ> I am currently in the journey of getting my black belt in Brazilian ju-jitsu and Judo. Traveling and spending time with some of my favourite coaches in the world, keep developing top mma athletes and cross fit athletes. Change the image of MMA athletes in South Africa and become the go to coach in South Africa. 

<MW> Thanks for taking the time to chat to us.
<RQ> Always a pleasure.

<MW> How is the training and prep going for EFC 12?
<JM> Preparation for this fight is going very well. I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements over the camp.

<MW> What age did you start Mixed Martial Arts and what are some of your credentials please?
<JM> I started training at 16 but full time training from 19 and that’s when I started fighting. I was the 2009 Amateur MMA Champion.

<MW> Current gym you belong to or train under?
<JM> I train at GodFatherMMA under Brad Bloch.

<MW> Which camp have you been training with and which are your current trainers?
<JM> I’ve been training with Brad (head coach) Abel (BJJ coach) and Gavin (S&C and cardio coach).

<MW> What will you do differently in this fight that you have not yet done in previous fights?
<JM> I’ve been growing my hair, that will be different.

<MW> Are you concerned regarding Wade’s stand up game?
<JM> Of course I’m concerned about Wade’s stand up game, and I’ve been working hard to address that.

<MW> The social media networks are going crazy with comments relating to the remarks made by Wade, anything you would like to say back?
<JM> I have nothing to say back, other than apologising to my fans for momentarily getting caught up in all the nonsenes (Ed Note: original word used had to be edited - we are a family website), I have no interest in trash talking.

<MW> So is this going to be a total grudge match to end all grudge matches?
<JM> The only grudge here is the one that Wade made up. It’s no secret that I don’t like him, and to be honest I just don’t think he is a nice person.

<MW> Where to after this fight?
<JM> After this fight, I’m opening up my own gym in Savoy, and in terms of fighting I’m going to look at make a run at the title this year, provided I win of course!

<MW> On a lighter note, what is the one gadget you can’t do without?
<JM> I can’t live without my Blackberry.

<MW> Anyone you would like to give thanks to?
<JM> I’d like to thank my team and training partners and my sponsors, xtremeinkworks Evil ink and most of all TNB (Top Notch Brands) and Kimurawear. I’d also like to thank the rest of my sponsors but I need to get them first!!! 

<MW> Thank you for your time.
<JM> Thank you to you and MMAWear.co.za for taking the time to chat to me.

MMAWear.co.za caought up with Neil Grove - a South African applying his MMA trade in the UK, known to his team mates and fans as 'Goliath', that is an easy nick name to understand though. Neil comes in at 6'6" and weighs in at 120kg (when he is trim)...

<MW> Please tell all our readers who you are and please give some credentials? 
<NG> I'm Neil Grove, brought up in Pietermaritzburg, and went to school in SE Transvaal (now known as Gauteng) and ended up in JHB until 1996. When I decided to go travelling in Europe, little did I know that I would enjoy it so much in London, and finally meet my soul mate, get married to her, Emalene, have kids and become a Brit in the process. 

<MW> So Sharks or Lions? 
<NG> I'm a Sharks supporter, as I lived most of my life in SA in Natal!

<MW> So why the move to the UK and how old were you when you moved across? 
<NG> I wanted to travel. I was 25 and my first stop was London. Fell in love with the city and decided to stay longer than planned. 

<MW> Who do you train with, any big UFC names? 
<NG> I trained in America last year with Josh Barnett at CSW. Sparred with  Cheick Kongo in preparation for his fight with Pat Barry, at Huntington Beach Training Centre. Sparred with Fabricio Werdum at Reign Training Centre, which is owned by Mark Munoz. There Jake Ellenberger, Anderson Silva, Krzysztof Soszynski and many more train!

<MW> How old were you when you started BJJ/MMA and how did you get into it?
<NG> (He laughs) I started Goju Ryu Karate when I was 29. Got my black belt when I was 34. Had my first mma fight when I was almost 36, had my first mma training session when I was 5-0 and 37. That 4 years ago now, so I'm a late starter! What made me 'conditioned' to the sport was the fact that I played rugby. Played with Pieter Hendricks, James Dalton and a few other good players for TVL U/21 before a knee injury made me quit. 

<MW> Has our local EFC competition started making waves yet in the UK? 
<NG> Not yet. There are so many events popping up here. One is standing out BAMMA.  EFC is standing out in SA as the biggest, right? I'm sure if they continue doing as well as they are, and producing the fighters they are at the moment, big networks will approach them to broadcast their shows in England, Japan, Canada and America.

<MW> Would you be keen at getting a go at it? 
<NG> I would love to fight in my home country. 

<MW> Who is your biggest inspiration? 
<NG> In MMA it's randy couture. 

<MW> What does it mean for you to be a fighter? 
<NG> I never thought I would be one. I told my wife I only wanted to see what I was capable of. After all, it is a safe environment to fight in. There are rules, a referee and ambulance service/ DR’s at events. No knives or guns! (he laughs again). So after two fights, the bug bit. I've won and lost. My body is still improving. Even at 41! So I've a few more fights left in me. 

<MW> What separates you from every other fighter in the division? 
<NG> I love a KO. I don't fight to score points. Every kick, elbow, knee or punch I throw, I aim to brake or KO my opponent. Afterwards, I enjoy a drink with them! 

<MW> What are your future plans in the sport? 
<NG> When I retire, I would love to teach. Specifically to youngsters. They need to know how to protect themselves. Learn discipline and respect for others. I've also done two months of intensive training in colour commentating, with the director and play-by-play commentator of Bellator. Sean Wheelock and Rob Beiner. 

<MW> MMA and South Africa?
<NG> MMA isn't funny. It's hard. It's addictive. I would live to end on a high. My dream is to fight in SA. Open a MMA Gym in the Western Cape and retire in Stellenbosch. 

We get some insight into the biggest grudge match at EFC 12 - Wade Henderson, AKA The G.O.A.T talks to us about how much he dislikes Jedi's and his future move back to Middleweight. This is straight from the 'Goat's' mouth...

<MW> Has your training been going well for this fight?
<WH> Training for this fight has gone incredibly well I've had a great training camp and I really feel sharp in all aspects! 

<MW> Fighters and their wives sacrifice a lot when training and preparing for a fight, how does your family feel about this?
<WH> Fighting and training takes a lot out of you and it also requires a ton of sacrifices, I’m lucky that I have such an amazing wife who understands and supports me so much! There has been a few times (He laughs to himself) when Leah has just about kicked my ass when I didn't want to go to training, she is my best motivation!

<MW> Has your recent trip to Thailand helped in the preparation for this fight?
<WH> Training in Thailand is always beneficial for any of my fights, My coach Ray Elbe is a tough bastard and a very, very good BJJ black belt! He always demands the best and never settles for anything less, while I was there we trained our ass's off and I was busy prepping to face one of the best black belts in Asia and Brazil, so it really went hand in hand for this fight!

<MW> Is this a bit of a grudge match between you and Josh Muller?
<WH> This IS a SERIOUS grudge match, I don't like this kid at all, I mean the little chop paints his nails! In fact I've spoken to my wife and after the fight she is gonna give him a free pedicure at her salon, he does not belong in the cage let alone the EFC!  And come fight night Josh is not gonna like what happens in the cage! I've never gone into a fight with so much hatred and aggression before, with that said it's not gonna be good for Josh!! He wanted it, he got it! 

<MW> Are you worried about what Muller will bring to the cage on the night?
<WH> I'm not worried at all about what josh will bring! I've got an answer for everything. And funnily enough all my answers end with josh having a broken jaw/nose and going to sleep!

<MW> Should you win this fight, what are the next steps from here?
<WH> After I win this fight I plan on going back to middleweight or even stepping up to light heavyweight. I have a bit of unfinished business in both weight classes. This will be my last welterweight fight!

<MW> Will there be any chance of a TKO on the night?
<WH> I think there is defiantly a chance of a KO or TKO in this fight, I’m not going looking for one if it. Ones it comes! And I'm sure it will! 

<MW> Anyone you would like to give thanks to?
<WH> I would like to say thank you to all m sponsors- Hayabusa Fightwear, MMAWear.co.za, Phat farm, J's  skin and body, my wife, my dad and my dogs.

Written by Jarrah Loh   

Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller is a unique personality in the Mixed Martial Arts world. He has long established himself in the media with hosting duties on Bully Beatdown and his trademark antics in and out of the cage. But Miller now finds himself thrust into the fighting mainstream with his signing to the UFC and a coaching role on the current series of The Ultimate Fighter.

How does it feel to be back in the UFC?
It feels fantastic. It kinda feels like I never left. It’s just good to be home!

Everyone wants to know how you will make a ‘Mayhem entrance’ with the limits in the UFC?
Anytime you are going to make art, whatever medium you have to work with, you need to just do the best you can with what you have. That’s my intentions and I will be making an awesome entrance even with the limitations of the UFC. 

You went straight into the The Ultimate Fighter coaching spot. How do you think the show went?
I think it went fantastic. I did the most I could do for these up-and-coming fighters and I really feel like I did my best to give them as much of an advantage as I could give. Overall, I think it went great.

It is hard to know what happens after these shows get edited, but I have definitely noticed that you seem to get in there and mix it up with the guys a lot more than other coaches.
Yeah, I felt like it was my responsibility to get in there and move with the dudes and get my hands dirty and actually get in there and show them some stuff instead of just hanging back on the sidelines and not engaging. I think the best way to teach them something is hands on, so that’s what I did. 

How are you feeling in regards to your match-up with Bisping?
I feel great about this. It is a fight that I have wanted for years and now that I am in the UFC it’s like, “Here I am!” I can’t wait to show everybody my skill set. He is a tough dude, but I know that I can beat him and I know that I have the right tools to do it. I mean, there’s nothing magical about the guy, he comes forward hard and throws a jab and a cross, then he runs away. That’s his favourite manoeuvre and he’s not going to be able to do it with me. I am going to stop him cold in his tracks.

Do you feel you have a lot to prove in this fight and coming into the UFC?
Yes. Absolutely! I have everything to prove. I have to show everybody what I can do and what I have been working on for the last 12 years of my life. Nobody has got to see it because I haven’t been fighting where everybody watches it. Now is my time with the spotlight on me and I am going to have to show it to everyone.

You haven’t fought in over a year, are you worried about ring rust?
No, not really. One thing I am concerned about is just getting too excited and losing my mind in there and going crazy. I feel like I have been doing this for so long that the time off isn’t really going to affect me at all. On top of that, I have done it plenty of times where I have had long lay-offs. When you don’t fight in the UFC, your future is uncertain all the time, so I just always had to be training and ready to go at any time. Then I would have a long lay-off and then fight and then have another lay-off and I would fight, but it has never affected me negatively and I always feel good going in. I feel especially good because I have been able to heal my body and have had a really good training camp. 
You seem to have a very close relationship with your coach Ryan Parsons.
Yeah, I feel like we are a really good team and having somebody on the outside of the cage watching you and kind of being a head coach, not just a specific type of training coach, really brings it to the next level. You really need that, and it is something that a lot of fighters neglect and think they don’t need, but it is very important.  

Your last fight was against the legend Kazushi Sakuraba. What did Sakuraba mean to you and how did that win feel?
It was tremendous; it was one of those experiences of a lifetime. I have loved him since I was like 21 years old, maybe even younger, because I always tried to emulate his style and be like him — I wanted to have fun on the job. Fighting was always his job, but he had fun with it and I always tried to emulate that. That fight really solidified something in me. The fan reaction in Japan was very positive. I was very respectful of the man because he has given so much to fighting over the years and I really appreciated him and the fans were very supportive of me. 

What are your thoughts on UFC going to Japan? 
It’s great. I think the Japanese fans are an awesome group of people. I feel like they deserve to have a top MMA show over there. Dream is a fantastic promotion too, but it’s not the UFC. It’s kind of crazy that they are bringing the UFC to Japan and I am really interested to see what happens with that and how it shakes out. 

Do you think the support is still there in Japan for MMA?
I’m not sure about that. But one thing I do know is that the UFC is fantastic at marketing and they get over there early and they pump up the marketing. They can get a lot of people to that show. 

Would you like to be part of it?
I haven’t heard any words about it. But, hell yeah, I would love to go back! As soon as I heard about it I was getting excited and hopeful that I would get a chance to fight on one of the cards. 

The first show is in February; do you think that is enough time for you?
Yeah! Unless I mess my hand up on Bisping’s thick skull, I would love to get out there and get back into training and get a fight in Japan, that would be awesome.

Now Diaz is back in the UFC also and causing more problems than ever. Even though you are in the same promotion again, do you think you guys will ever get to fight?
Maybe, I guess something will eventually come up. But at the time that I was calling him out, it was mainly because I was in a contract where there was only a few opponent’s to fight and he was one of them. I really tried to make that match happen and for a multitude of reasons it just never happened. But I am not too concerned about it now, I have bigger fish to fry.

And by bigger fish, you obviously mean Anderson Silva.
Yes. That is really what I am aiming at — the man with the belt. My goal is to get in there with the man that has the belt and win it. Firstly, I can’t get cocky; I have to look right at Michael Bisping. That’s the important fight for me right now, that’s what’s right in front of me now. 
But, hell yes, I think I have the skill set to take on Silva. He’s just a human being but everyone thinks he is magic because he knocks people out. I think guys get in there with him and get nervous and lock up and he starts moving around and everyone shuts down. I feel like Chael Sonnen just went in there and took him down and punched him in the face. Chael Sonnen is not Superman, but he definitely made this guy look human. I feel that if you didn’t take anything from that fight, then you are stupid. Sonnen took him down and pounded on him for four-and-a-half rounds. You’re not very intelligent if you can’t see how human he looked in that fight. But people get scared of him; it’s stupid. You can’t be scared. If you are there fighting for the title, there can’t be a drop of fear in your heart. You need to be completely fearless and be able to look the man in the eye. That’s where Sonnen did well. He thought in his heart that he could beat him, only to fall into a triangle. But, he had the right mentality. You need to go forward and move, move, move. You need to get him on the ropes and not do what everyone usually does and let him use his range and get picked apart.
Bully Beatdown is still going stronger than ever. Will there be another season?
I don’t know at this point. I couldn’t tell you either way, but I can say that it is one of the most popular TV shows around the planet. Everyone seems to love it everywhere and I couldn’t imagine that some smart TV executive wouldn’t want to bring it back. I enjoyed it and it was a great experience.

What is the story with Mayhem Monkeys? You are giving your fans homework and things like that; tell us a bit about that.
That’s been going on for almost a decade now. It’s just kind of a top secret organisation. The Mayhem Monkeys has been living on the internet, but like I said, it is top secret.
I hear you on Joe Rogan’s podcast and you come across as a very humble, considerate guy and I know that people have been surprised at your personality away from the camera.
People have this preconceived notion about me and I don’t know how I come across that way to everyone. I guess they think that if you’re loud and saying funny things that you can’t be smart. But I really believe that people don’t think about things. To say funny things you have to be a little bit smart. I mean, I am not calling myself smart, because I am dumb enough to know I am not that smart. The world is filled with a bunch of people that don’t think they are dumb and I think that I am not that bright, but I am bright enough to realise that I am not that bright. 
I just take my ego out of things and look at everything rationally and practically and I do my best to look at things pragmatically. It’s weird because I change a lot of people’s feelings about me when they get to know something a little more in-depth about me or read an article like this and realise that I am not one dimensional; they see that maybe I actually read a book once in a while. I am just glad that I am getting to a point where the media is giving me enough attention that I can prove to the world that I am not just an imbecile.
But yeah, people are starting to go, “Oh, hey, I didn’t know that you weren’t just crazy! I though you were just crazy!” And I’m like, yeah, I am a little bit crazy but what’s the world without crazy people. I think that greatness and insanity are a thin line between each other.

I guess people assume that because you are so loud and excitable that maybe you are a bit shallow.
I feel like I am loud because my whole damn family is loud! If you come to Christmas at my house, you will see it is as loud as hell; we are screaming in each other’s faces and laughing so hard. But I am not trying to shout you down; I am trying to shout you up! I want everybody to push each other up; I don’t want anybody to be down. I am very positive; I don’t like to spout negativity all the time. I try to stay completely away from negativity and focus on the positive aspects of what we can do better and how we can push things in a more positive direction.

What about your own podcast?
Yeah, people often say I should do my own podcast, but the only way I would want to do something like that would be if I could go full tilt. Anything I put my name on I want it to be really high quality. I really like Joe Rogan’s podcast and he always says the appeal of it is that it is just a few friends talking in his office. But for me, I wouldn’t want that, I would want something that is well produced and is a real entertainment thing and something that you really want to hear or watch and something that has the mark of something greater. I don’t know. I love podcasts and stuff, but there is such a commitment to time, where if I started doing it, it would take up too much time and I’m a little busy at the moment.

When I checked out your website recently I was surprised how polished it is.
That’s something new too actually. For a long time I had a cruddy website and I was very bitter about it because it was so bad! I felt so bad because I wanted to give the people more. But it was one of those things, where you don’t have the resources, so you just do the best you can. Now, I feel like I am in a place where I really need to give people what they want. I really need to give 100 per cent at this point. 

The last interview you did with us you talked about how you didn’t need to protect your sister because, “She’s a big, mean bitch. She’d knock your teeth out if you looked at her funny…”
[Laughs] Well, that is very funny that you have that quote because obviously she started a wrestling match with me at my house and it ended up being international news [laughs]. That whole family matter was funny to me [laughs] but to the newspapers it wasn’t too funny. TMZ couldn’t wait to get their hooks in it, but nothing really came of it anyway. It’s funny that me and my sister having a wrestling match and she calling the cops on me definitely caused some drama for at least a couple of weeks. I love my sister, we all have these family things but for the Miller family it’s usually a little more extreme. I love her, but [laughs] she definitely caused a headache for me for a few weeks.

Have you thought about kids and a family of your own?
Man, I love kids! A younger Mayhem would have definitely said, nah, but as I get older I see the kind of value in it and building a legacy down the line and I also have a girlfriend that is hinting at going down that direction in life. I can see my friends at that place with their children and I see the look on their face when they look at their children and it is definitely different than any other look. It’s like the way I look at my wiener dog, but at the next level [laughs]. It’s like if my wiener dog had shared my DNA. I’m sure that I will eventually get into that, but right now in the fight business it’s kind of rough and doesn’t lend itself to fatherhood. I’ve watched my fighter friends and seen that it is pretty rough for their kids to grow up in this lifestyle. 

Thanks for your time Mayhem and good luck with the fight.
Thanks so much for everything, I appreciate it and hopefully I should be down in Australia next year!

 

<MW> How has your training and preparation for this fight being going?
<PK> Well coming from a long rest after my knee operation I've obviously started up slowly and gradually worked up the pace... I worked out my training program in phases; we start from fight night and work our program backwards to make sure my training program allows me to peak on fight night.

<MW> Fighters sacrifice a lot when training and preparing for a fight, what’s that important that keeps you going?
<PK> At this point in stage in my fighting career, I'm definitely not in the position where I should have been. I'm basically re-entering the fight world where I left off a few years ago, due to numerous injuries and operations which enable me to reach my goals and dreams and the fact that I spent so much time incarcerated in a correctional facility. I've been given another chance to live my dream and the opportunity to have a championship belt around my waist, this is my chance to make up for lost time and I refuse to let anybody stand in my way! I have one more chance to get in right and my ID book doesn't allow any space for mistakes. 

<MW> This is your second fight in the EFC, you won your first with ease, do you see a repeat here?
<PK> I never train for an easy fight, I prepare every battle as if it’s a TITLE fight. (hint, hint EFC)

<MW> What do you think Ricky Misholas will bring to the cage on fight night?
<PK> I do believe he's going to come out banging and try keep it stand up, which suites me just fine. I don't really pay too much attention on what he's going to bring, as I've never seen any of his fights. I've got my game plan and I'm sticking to it... I'm gonna pick him up, smash him down and TAP him out...hahaha just joking! I'm gonna knock him out!!

<MW> Is there any "bad blood" between the two of you?
<PK> No not at all. I don't take my fights personal, I just treat him as stepping stone to my goal! I've met him once before when my leg was still in a brace at a boxing event at Emperors. He seemed like quite a gentlemen. 

<MW> Will there be any chance of a KO on the night?
<PK> I’m willing to put money on it!!

<MW> Its been rumoured that you had a tough upbringing on the streets of Pretoria, any truth to that?
<PK> Who limited me to Pretoria... LOL! You can’t believe everything you read on Google.

<MW> How did you get the nickname "The Dragon"?
<PK> A crazy ass tattoo artist friend of mine named Jono, tattooed the largest golden traditional dragon over the whole right hand side of my body.

<MW> Anyone you would like to give thanks to?
<PK> I would like to give a special thanks to Sebastian Rothman, cruiser-weight world boxing champion, always helping me with my crazy fight preparation programs. I would also like to thank Marius Swanepoel for helping me with my ground game and all my fellow students that has spent hours in the gym helping us prepare for fight night. And last but not least I would like to send a big thank you to my fiancé Gitte Rootman for always keeping me focused and in-line and always preparing the correct diet supplement in and out of the kitchen which enables me to get in the shape that I'm in.

Then I would just like to thank Dani and the guys from Hayabusa Fightwear and MMAWear.co.za for the awesome sponsorship! It is a pleasure and honour representing such a high quality MMA and Clothing Brand.


…and just like that, The Dragon gets back to training…

<MW> How the preparations been going well thus far for this fight?
<DB> Well I'm glad to say fight prep has been relatively injury free, training hard as always.

<MW> How disappointed were you when you heard Martin (van Staaden) pulled out? 
<DB> At first I thought it was a joke but when I found out I was pretty disappointed, we have both wanted to battle each other for a while and after reading how he was planning to take his personal issues out on me I wanted to whip him even more. It's an anger management class we both wanted.

<MW> No verbal abuse by you or your fans on the social media, how come? 
<DB> Nope no verbal abuse, I don't verbally abuse anyone; a bit of banter to sell the fight is ok. As for the fans it seems it's only Martin's groupies who disrespect fighters. I'm sure everyone saw the abuse I took when getting injured and now that the roles are reversed it's awfully quiet on that side. Just want these critics to know I train damn hard to fight even harder

<MW> Michiel Opperman comes in to replace Martin; do you think it will be an easier or tougher opponent? 
<DB> I think tougher because we both lanky strikers, styles make fights so the fans are in for blood soaked treat. I know his ground game is tops after all he is training with the man himself Atila Barna but I got a few surprises going to the ground. I have been working with Wiekus Swart, so should it go to the ground it is Wresting vs. BJJ. 

<MW> Do you think you have a physiological advantage, given his short preparation time for this fight? 
<DB> Nope, I know he stays in good shape all year round and K1 fighters take fights at short notice all the time.

<MW> If you win this fight, where to from here? Title Shot? 
<DB> Who knows, u can never tell what EFC have up their sleeve but to be honest I just want to get back to fighting on a regular basis. Last year was up and down with injuries so want to make this year a competitive one. Think I need to prove myself a little more before a title shot. EFC state two wins in a row gets you a title shot or contender slot. 

<MW> Anyone you would like to give thanks to? 
<DB> All my sponsors - MMAWear.co.za, Hayabusa Fightwear, GrRana, Siyaduma, Iron Fist and Jaded Ink. Would also like to thank cre8tive sports solutions who are handling my PR and marketing. Most of all I want to thank my head coach Peter Smith for another fantastic training camp. The man is a true scientist of the fight game. I can't leave out Wiekus Swart who has turned my ground game into a force to be reckoned with. 

<MW> Thank You so much for this interview...
<DB> No, thank you, I just can't wait until EFC 12 - then I get to unleash The Lion...